Humidifier



Oct, 1;, 1929. "r. H IRELAND A I 7 3 -9 HUMIDIFIER Filed NOV. 18. 1925Patented Get. 1, 192

HUMIDIFIER Application filed November 18, 1925. Serial No. 69,809.

This invention pertains to humidifiers for humidifying systems, such asthose disclosed for instance, in my Patent No. 1,57 5,839 dated March 9,1926, and is an improvement upon the apparatus therein described. lVhilethe principles thereof may be employed in various relationships, theyhave been embodied, for illustrative purposes, in a humidifier suitablefor connection in or to an ordinary type 0 of house heating system.

One. of the objects of my invention, is to provide a humidifier whichmay be readily installed and connected in the supply line of the usualsteam or hot water radiator or hot air register and one which may bemanufactured and sold as a unit for installation with the installationof the usual heating system or for connection in heating systems alreadyinstalled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a humidifier which will beentirely automatic in operation and one adapted to operate when theheating system is in operation and to remain idle when the heatingsystem is idle.

Other objects include novel features of construction whereby theaforementioned objects may be attained and whereby the humidifier may beconnected in the line supplying the radiator or the like at eitherend ofthe radiator regardless of the position of the radiator or the like inthe room.

Still further objects of my invention should be readily appreciatedafter perusal of the description and claims and from inspection of thedrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus shown installed inconnection with a radiator and a heated medium supply line thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing one preferred formof the invention on a larger scale than that of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is anend elevation looking at the right hand end of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 the usual steam or hot water radiator 2 has been shownconnected through the valve 3v and line 4 with a main steam or hot waterline 5, but it will be readily appre ciated and understood that theconnections may be made in any other suitable manner and in the mannershown in my above noted patent when used in connection with a hotairheating system. I place the humidifier, generally designated 6, in theline 4, and pre-ferably below the floor 5 in order that air circulationthrough the humidifier may be amplified by means of heat transferredfrom the radiator.

The humidifier 6 is preferably composed v of two parts, an upper 7 and alower portion 8'. The lower portion 8 is formed substantially as shownin Figs. 2 and 3 to provide awater receiving reservoir 9 and a steam orhot water conduit or chamber 11 having no connection with the waterchamber or reservoir 9, except that it may be integrally cast orotherwise formed therewith. The conduit or chamber 11 is provided withoutwardly projecting portions 12 at its ends, which portions are tappedwhereby they may receive the threaded ends of the line. 4 and beconnected therein. The water reservoir portion is preferably providedwith oppositely disposed lugs 13 and 14, each cored and tapped toreceive a pipe 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and withspaced lugs 16 adapted to be connected with similar lugs 17 formed onthe upper or cover portion? by means of bolts, lag screws or the like18.

The top or cover portion 7 may be formed from sheet metal or from castmetal to provide a hollow inverted trough member to be superimposed uponthe portion 8 and for tight connection therewith. The ends of the cover7 are closed except for an outwardly projecting portion 19 forming acircular opening or the like telescopiugly connecting with a vent pipe20 and through which humidified air may pass from the humidifyingchamber provided between the cover 7 and the lower portion 8, and exceptfor a similarly projecting portion 21 providing a second opening to theinterior whereby cool air may be supplied to the tank.- A baflle plate22 integral with or secured to the cover 7 extends across orsustantially across the 1nterior thereof adjacent the cool air supplyend. This baflle extends downwardly from the top to the line of thebottom of the open ing in projection 21. Arrows indicate the A floatchamber 26 containing any suit-' able float mechanism, generallydesignated 27 for controlling a valve 28 operative to open 1 and closethe end of the delivery pipe 29 from any suitable source of watersupply, is provided with similarly placed tapped openings 31 and 32whereby it may be connected to either of the tap ed lug connections 13and 14 by means of the pipe 15. The float chamber is also provided withan overflow pipe 33 adapted to "be connected to it as shownat- 34 or tothe opposite side of the float chamber as shown at 35. Plugs 36, 37 and38 are employed to close the unused openings in the water reservoir andthe float chamber. By constructing the float chamber and the waterreservoir in this manner,'I am enabled to dispose the float chamber oneither side of the water reservoir and the humidifier in the line of theheating system regardless of whether or not the line enters from theright or left hand end of the radiator, if the radiator is disposedclose to the wall, as will be apparent. It will only be necessary totranspose the pipe and plug connections from one side of the floatchamber to the other to adapt it for transposition to the opposite sideof the water reservoir.

The air intake pipe 25 extending through the floor 5, preferablycommunicates with the interior of the room at or near the floor,although it may be placed in another room or carried to any source ofsupply of relatively cool air. The moist air vent'or delivery pipe 20preferably extends upwardly through the floor and for a considerabledistance in close proximity to the radiator or other heat distributor 2-so as to be heated thereby. The water in the tank isheated by the heatsupply pipe 4: and the heat from the radiator causes an upflow of air inthe pipe 20 While at the same time the colder air along the floor flowsthrough the pipe 25 into the tank 6 into close proximity to the watertherein and circulation is established whenever the, radiator or otherheat distributor is in operation.

In operation, the float mechanism is adapted to automatically open upthe water supply pipe 29 to supply and maintain a sufficient quantity ofwater in the reservoir and float chamber. The float having been set toclose the valve at a redetermincd water level, the valve is close by thefloat when that level is reached. Should any execess water flow into thefloat chamber or the valve become stuck or any similar accident occur,the overflow ipe 33 will carry such excess water off. Vater flowing fromthe float chamber through the pipe connection 15 into the reseroutlet 20closely adjacent the radiator preferably betweenadjacent sectionsthereof as shown, in order thathot air rising therefrom will aid ininducing a flow of air through the humidifier. Air entering thehumidifier through the inlet is carried down into intimate contact withthe surface of the water and absorbs water vapor therefrom, passes onthrough the humidifying chamber and the outlet from the chamber to thevent 20. Circulation of air through the humidifier is primarily inducedthrough the arrangement of the humidifier whereby air, entering thehumidifier through pipe'25, being relatively cooler than air Within thehumidifier, forces the humidified and'warmor air out. .The draft throughthe humidifier is augmented by placing the outlet or vent pipe 20adjacent or between the section of the radiator as aforestated.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention andhave set forth several uses to which it may be put, the invention in itsbroadersense is susceptibleof many variations and modifications, both instructure and mode of operation without scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a humidifier adapted to be disposed beneath the floor of a room,means providing a water reservoir of greater length than width, achamber below said reservoir hav ing a wall in common therewith and saidchamber adapted to be connected in a heated medium carryin pipe linewith the longitudinal axis of he reservoir parallel to the axis of thepipe line, a cover for said reservoir, said cover having two openings,one in each end, for circulation of air therethrough and across thewater in said reservoir, and means whereby air pipes leading to and froma room to be humidified-may be connected to said cover at said openings.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, water supplyingmeans are departure from the spirit thereof or the provided below thefloor for the reservoir, 1

THOMAS HILTON IRELAND.

